The modern-day mix of challenges facing the multi-dimensional IT leader

Perspective is everything when you are experiencing the challenges of an ever-changing digital world. And CIOs and IT leaders across the world have understood that and adapted. Busier than ever, with their roles having changed dramatically over recent times, they’re no longer just leading a support function; they are now driving the strategic direction of organisations, taking responsibility for digital transformation and customer experience initiatives all while carefully guarding the security of all online activity.

In partnership with Econsultancy, Adobe recently surveyed 500 IT leaders* to gain a better understanding of the digitally-driven opportunities and challenges facing organisations from the perspective of those on the front line.

In terms of challenges, unsurprisingly, cyber security is most likely to be keeping IT leaders awake at night with the risk of security breaches cited as a key concern by a higher proportion of respondents (41%) than any other area.

However, the research also found that IT leaders play a key role in helping companies to transform themselves around the needs of customers. For example, keeping up with changing customer expectations and behaviour was cited as a key challenge by 40% of respondents. There is also heightened pressure to deliver infrastructures that enable the real-time and personalised services that consumers have become to expect today.

External needs must be balanced with internal requirements in order for any business to be efficient. Digital workflows, for example, have a significant impact across all business functions and IT leaders it seems are well aware of this. Nearly half (49%) of IT executives indicate they have prioritised enhancement of digital workflows with switching to paperless, digital end-to-end workflows being the most popular initiative ( 50% of the companies covered in the survey are moving in this direction).

IT leaders of today need to be well-rounded individuals who can manage the crucial day-to-day support function as well as drive significant organisational change.

Find out more about IT leaders’ views on the digital trends here.

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*manager level and above, global